possum haw

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noun

a shrub, Ilex decidua, of the southeastern U.S., having leaves that are hairy on the upper surface and glossy, red fruit.

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Also called bearberry.

Origin of possum haw

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Two hours east of Dallas, sun-drenched granite cliffs loom high above the cloudy waters of Possum Kingdom Lake.
The World Series of Cliff Diving Takes Itself Very Seriously|Hampton Stevens|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I could sum it up in a few choice words, I would, but instead I hem and haw, before stumbling through some rambling rejoinder.
Fear And Self-Loathing In Scandinavia: The Fiction Of Karl Ove Knausgaard|Ted Gioia|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was also called “Possum,” because he looked like one, especially when he grinned.
George Jones Would Break Your Heart Every Time|Malcolm Jones|April 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They back away and hem and haw and leave it to the lower courts to implement their decisions.
Supreme Court Outlawed Executing Mentally Retarded, But Texas Does It Anyway|David R. Dow|August 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Congress has been a dull place since he and his possum-shaped wig left for federal prison.
The Case for Pardons|Tucker Carlson|December 1, 2008|DAILY BEAST
A chorus of haw haws, showed how delighted his fellow-clowns were with farmer Joe's story.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Why not, he asked himself, "play possum" with the man and the dog, and pretend to be badly hurt and unconscious?
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
The Irish title of the letter a or haw is alif, as also is the Arabian: the Greek alpha is either alpa or alfa.
Archaic England|Harold Bayley
This seemed a good joke, and they all howled and haw-hawed gleefully.
Wayside Courtships|Hamlin Garland
Why do these—these people at the fort hem and haw and hesitate when they speak about him?
Warrior Gap|Charles King